Tray With Leveling Handle

ABSTRACT

In an aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for use with one or more beverage cups, a horizontal surface and a sloped automobile seating surface. The apparatus comprises a tray having an operative position and, for each of the beverage cups, a cup holder. The cup holders are adapted such that when the tray is disposed in the operative position and each beverage cup is received by a cup holder, the beverage cups project upwardly from the tray. A leg is operatively coupled to the tray, and has: an extended position whereat, when the tray is operatively disposed upon the sloped surface, the leg supports the tray in the operative position; and a storage position whereat, when the tray is operatively disposed upon the horizontal surface, at least one of the tray, and the tray in combination with the leg, supports the tray in the operative position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to trays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trays are commonly used to carry various items, such as food and drink items. When a tray is placed on an unlevel surface, items thereupon that are susceptible to spillage, such as beverage cups, or that are susceptible to slippage along the tray surface, can spill and/or slip off of the tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is an apparatus for use with one or more beverage cups, a horizontal surface and an automobile seat having a sloped seating surface. This apparatus comprises: a tray having an operative position and further having, for each of said one or more beverage cups, a cup holder, the cup holders being adapted such that, in use, when the tray is disposed in the operative position and each beverage cup is received by the cup holder provided therefor, the beverage cups project upwardly from the tray; a leg operatively coupled to the tray, the leg having: an extended position whereat, when the tray is operatively disposed upon the sloped seating surface, the leg supports the tray in the operative position; a storage position, whereat, when the tray is operatively disposed upon the horizontal surface, at least one of the tray, and the tray in combination with the leg, supports the tray in the operative position.

Further aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an upper front perspective view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the leg in the extended position and the handle in the carrying position;

FIG. 2 is an upper rear perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of the portion circled by line 3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an upper front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the leg in the storage position and the handle in the lowered position;

FIG. 5 is a bottom front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the leg in the storage position and the handle in the carrying position;

FIG. 6 is an upper front perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the leg in the storage position and the handle in the lowered position, and with a magnified view of the latch mechanism;

FIG. 6A is a magnified view of encircled area 6A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a magnified view of the portion circled by line 7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a front view of two of the apparatuses of FIG. 1 stacked on top of each other, each of the apparatuses configured in a stacking configuration;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the stacked apparatuses of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an upper front perspective view of the stacked apparatuses of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the stacked apparatuses of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the leg in the extended position and the handle in the carrying position;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an upper front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the leg in the extended position and the handle in the lowered position;

FIG. 17 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16, depicting the apparatus in use upon a sloped automobile seat surface;

FIG. 18 is an upper front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 configured in a boxing configuration;

FIG. 21 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is an upper front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 23 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 configured in a hanging configuration;

FIG. 25 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is an upper front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 24;

FIG. 28 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, with the leg in the storage position and the handle in the carrying position;

FIG. 29 is a side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is an upper front perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. 31 is a top view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 28;

FIG. 32 is a section view taken along line A-A of FIG. 31; and

FIG. 33 is an exploded view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 33, an apparatus for supporting one or more beverage cups, and constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, is noted generally by reference numeral 10. The apparatus is for use on both a horizontal surface 200 and a sloped surface, including an automobile seat having a sloped seating surface 100.

Apparatus 10 comprises a tray 12 and a leg 18 operatively coupled to the tray. The leg can be configured in an extended position 20 and in a storage position 22. Tray 12 can be configured in an operative position 14, and includes one or more cup holders 16. The cup holders are adapted such that, in use, when the tray is disposed in the operative position and each beverage cup is received by a respective cup holder, the beverage cups project upwardly from the tray and beverage within the beverage cups is maintained substantially level.

When in the extended position, leg 18 supports tray 12 in the operative position when the tray is operatively disposed upon a sloped surface, such as sloped automobile seat surface 100, as shown in FIG. 17. Further, when the tray is operatively disposed upon horizontal surface 200 (shown in FIG. 21), it can be supported in the operative position by the tray, or by the tray in combination with the leg when in the storage position, as shown in FIGS. 4-6, 8-11, and 20-31.

Leg 18 is capable of being releasably locked in the storage position by an engaging mechanism, such as a latch mechanism 24. In the embodiment shown, latch mechanism 24 includes a sloped and depressible tongue 24 a disposed on the tray and sized and dimensioned for co-operable engagement with an opening 24 b formed in the leg, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 2 and 6. When the leg is releasably attached in the storage position by latch mechanism 24, it can be released from the storage position by depressing tongue 24 a to allow the leg to be pivoted, rotated, or otherwise moved away from the storage position. Other means for releasably locking the leg in the storage position are within the scope of the present disclosure.

Leg 18 will, in most cases, be pivotable between the storage and extended positions, although the leg may transition between these positions in other manners, such as by sliding. As shown in FIG. 33, leg 18 has two opposing end portions 18 a, 18 b. Further, tray 12 has two opposing sides 12 a, 12 b extending between two opposing ends 12 c, 12 d. In the embodiment shown, and with reference to FIGS. 3, 7, 32, and 33, each of the opposing end portions of the leg includes a stub 26, and each of the opposing sides of the tray includes a recess 28 that is sized and dimensioned to pivotally receive therein one of the stubs 26. Each recess forms a generally circular portion 28 b and each stub has a correspondingly arcuate portion 26 b. Each stub 26 further comprises an elongate portion 26 a and each recess comprises an elongate slot 28 a extending outward from its circular portion and sized and dimensioned for receipt therein of one of the elongate portions. The opposite arrangement is also possible, with each of the opposing end portions of the leg including recess 28 and each of the opposing sides of the tray including stub 26.

The stubs and recesses are arranged such that when the leg is pivoted from the storage position to the extended position (as shown in a magnified view in FIG. 3), the leg can be releasably locked in the extended position by sliding the leg vertically upwards to thereby slide the elongate portions of each stub into the respective slots. The releasable receipt of the elongate portions within the slots will prevent further pivoting of the leg and thereby releasably maintain the leg in the extended position, the weight of the tray maintaining the elongate portions within the slots when the apparatus is disposed upon a sloped surface in its operative position 14. The leg can be moved out of the extended position by sliding the leg vertically downwards to thereby slide the elongate portions fully out of the respective slots so that each elongate portion is completely disposed within a respective circular portion 28 b of recess 28 (as shown in FIG. 3), so that the leg is free to pivot.

Apparatus 10 defines a notional horizontal plane “H” (see, e.g., FIGS. 9, 17, 21, and 25) when tray 12 is in operative position 14. A notional vertical plane “V” perpendicularly intersects plane “H” adjacent tray end 12 d. In most cases, leg 18 pivots from its storage position by more than 180° to be disposed at its extended position, so that it forms an acute angle “Z” with the vertical plane “V” (see, e.g., FIG. 17). As shown in FIG. 3, the stubs and recesses are arranged so that when the leg is disposed at its extended position, the elongate portions and slots become aligned to permit their releasable engagement.

Apparatus 10 further comprises handle 30 pivotally attached to the opposing sides 12 a, 12 b of the tray at approximately at a mid-point 12 e of the tray (shown, e.g., in FIG. 33). Handle 30 is pivotable between a lowered position 32 (shown, e.g., in FIG. 4) at which the handle extends towards one of the opposing ends 12 c, 12 d (the figures showing the lowered position in which the handle extends towards end 12 c), and a carrying position 34 (shown, e.g., in FIG. 2) at which the handle extends above the tray substantially perpendicularly to the tray. When handle 30 is in carrying position 34, it projects upward from the tray in a manner sufficient to allow apparatus 10 to be carried in the manner of a basket. The carrying position of the handle therefore tends to facilitate the carrying of apparatus 10 by a user of the apparatus.

Each opposing side 12 a, 12 b includes a channel 36 (see, e.g., FIGS. 4, 6 and 33) that extends vertically when the tray is in the operative position. The handle includes ribbed portions 38 (see, e.g., FIGS. 1 and 33) that are each sized and dimensioned for releasable receipt within a respective channel to thereby releasably lock the handle in the carrying position when the handle is arranged in the carrying position.

Apparatus 10 also has a stacking configuration 40, a hanging configuration 44, and a boxing configuration 46, in which the apparatus is suitably arranged for stacking, hanging, and boxing, respectively.

When in stacking configuration 40, handle 30 is disposed at its lowered position 32 and leg 18 is arranged at a position intermediate to storage position 22 and extended position 20. In one possible arrangement for the intermediate position of leg 18, shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, the leg extends upward to define an acute angle “Y” with the notional vertical plane “V” that is perpendicular to notional horizontal plane “H”, as shown in FIG. 9. When in the stacking configuration, apparatus 10 is cooperatively stackable upon another apparatus that is also configured in the stacking configuration, such that a portion or a substantial portion of the apparatus nests within the other apparatus.

When in the hanging configuration 44, shown in FIGS. 24 to 27, handle 30 is disposed at its lowered position 32 and leg 18 is disposed substantially parallel to the notional horizontal plane “H”, such that apparatus 10 is capable of being hung by either handle 30 or by leg 18. Leg 18 therefore defines a hangable structure 42 (see, e.g., FIG. 27) by which apparatus 10 can be hung when in the hanging configuration. Although hangable structure 42 is shown in the figures as an opening formed through leg 18, leg 18 may instead comprise some other hangable structure, such as a hook, loop, ridge, lip, or other like means capable of being utilized for the hanging of the apparatus.

When in the boxing configuration 46, leg 18 is disposed at its storage position 22 and handle 30 is disposed at its lowered position 32. In this configuration, apparatus 10 presents a minimal profile to facilitate its storage within a box. One possible boxing configuration, in which handle 30 is lowered such that it extends towards tray end 12 c, is shown in FIGS. 20 to 23. It will be appreciated that other configurations of the leg and the handle are also conducive to storage of the apparatus within a box. For example, stacking configuration 40 presents only a slightly greater profile than that of boxing configuration 46, and therefore, can also be used when boxing apparatus 10, or to box more than one apparatus 10 stacked atop one another.

In the exemplary embodiment, apparatus 10 has five cup-holders, each formed as a depression in tray 12, with four of the cup-holders being located at respective corners of the tray, and the fifth cup-holder being centrally disposed. It will be appreciated that other numbers and arrangements and types of cup-holders could be utilized in alternate embodiments.

Apparatus 10 will typically be formed largely from a hard material, such as metal, wood, a hard plastic, or other material of similar hardness. Portions of the apparatus, such as portions of the cup-holders, may be formed from flexibly resilient material in order to facilitate the grasping of beverage cups therein.

In use, the apparatus will tend to allow a user thereof to easily and effectively configure the tray for level support of beverage cups on either a horizontal or a sloped surface, while presenting various configurations to which the apparatus can be easily manipulated in order to carry, store, or hang the apparatus.

It is to be understood that what has been described are exemplary embodiments of the invention. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth above, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for supporting one or more beverage cups, comprising: a tray comprising an operative position, said tray further comprising, for each of said one or more beverage cups, a cup holder, said cup holders being configured to position said one or more beverage cups upwardly from said tray when the tray is disposed in said operative position and each of said one or more beverage cups is received by a respective one of said cup holders; and a leg operatively coupled to said tray, said leg comprising an extended position wherein, when said tray is operatively disposed on a sloped seating surface, said leg supports said tray in said operative position, said leg further comprising a storage position, wherein, when said tray is operatively disposed on a horizontal surface, at least one of said tray and said tray in combination with said leg supports said tray in said operative position.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a latch mechanism for releasably locking said leg in said storage position.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said leg is pivotable between said storage position and said extended position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said leg further comprises first and second opposing end portions and said tray further comprises first and second opposing sides, said first opposing end portion comprising a first stub and said first and second opposing sides comprising a second stub, and said second opposing end portion comprising a first recess and said first and second opposing sides comprising a second recess, said first and second recess being configured to pivotally receive said first and second stubs therein, said first and second stubs comprising an elongated portion, said first and second recesses comprising an elongated slot that is sized and dimensioned to receive one of said elongated portions therein, said first and second stubs and said first and second recesses being arranged, wherein, when said leg is pivoted from said storage position to said extended position, said leg is releasably lockable in said extended position by sliding said leg vertically upwards to thereby slide the elongate portions into said first and second slots, said releasable receipt of said elongated portions within said first and second slots preventing further pivoting of said leg.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said tray further comprises first and second opposing sides and first and second opposing ends, said first and second opposing sides extending between said first and second opposing ends, and said apparatus further comprises a handle pivotally attached to said first and second opposing sides approximately at a mid-point of said tray, said handle being pivotable between a lowered position, wherein said handle extends toward one of said first and second opposing ends, and a carrying position, wherein said handle extends above said tray substantially perpendicularly thereto, wherein in said carrying position said handle projects upward from said tray in a manner sufficient to allow said apparatus to be carried in the manner of a basket.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and second opposing sides comprise a channel that extends vertically when said tray is in said operative position, and wherein said handle comprises ribbed portions, each of said ribbed portions being sized and dimensioned for releasable receipt within a respective one of said channels of said first and second opposing sides to releasably lock said handle in said carrying position when said handle is positioned in said carrying position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said apparatus further comprises a stacking configuration, wherein said handle is in said lowered position and said leg is positioned at a position intermediate to said storage position and said extended position, said apparatus, when positioned in said stacking configuration, being cooperatively stackable upon a second apparatus in said stacking configuration, wherein a portion of said apparatus nests within said second apparatus.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said apparatus defines a first horizontal plane when said tray is in said operative position, wherein in said intermediate position said leg extends upward to define an acute angle with a plane perpendicular to said first horizontal plane when said apparatus is in said stacking configuration.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said leg defines a hangable structure and said apparatus defines a second horizontal plane when said tray is in said operative position, and wherein said apparatus comprises a hanging configuration, wherein said handle is in said lowered position and said leg is disposed substantially parallel to said second horizontal plane, said apparatus being capable of being hung by said handle when in said hanging configuration.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said apparatus is capable of being hung by said hangable structure of said leg when in said hanging configuration.
 11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said apparatus comprises a boxing configuration, wherein said leg is in said storage position and said handle is in said lowered position, wherein said apparatus presents a minimal profile when in said boxing configuration to facilitate storage of said apparatus within a box.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said tray comprises five said cup holders.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said cup holders comprises a depression formed in said tray.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a first cup holder of said five cup holders is located proximate the center of said tray and four of said five cup holders is located at a respective corner of said tray. 